See below the latest update from Entain
Welcome to October’s Entain Edition
Earlier this month, I attended the first day of the Harness Racing New Zealand (HRNZ) conference, providing an update on the progress that the harness code has made in the past two years. Since January 2024, 25% more customers have placed a bet on New Zealand harness than was the case at the start of last year. That has also flowed through to the weekly numbers, with weekly actives up 23%.
One of the aspects of my presentation that captured attendees’ interest was field sizes. The ‘sweet spot’ that produces the most even outcome for punters, the wagering operator and the racing codes, is between 11 and 14 runners in a race. When you dip below 11, that impacts turnover, and when you reach 15 runners or more in a field, the turnover may increase, but the turnover per starter figure starts to flatten out.
This ‘sweet spot’ applies to both equine codes, so with the size of the foal crops under the spotlight in recent years, it’s important that – alongside New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing and HRNZ – we maximise the opportunities for horses to start throughout a season.
Even an extra start or two per horse per season will have a positive flow-on effect on field sizes and turnover, which will help to grow the wagering market share for racing.
Please share or forward this newsletter to anyone in the industry who you think might like to read this. They can sign up to receive the Entain Edition directly by contacting communications@entaingroup.co.nz. If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, please contact the same address.
Sam Moncur
Managing Director
Entain NZ
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75 years of the TAB
Earlier this month marked a special day for the TAB brand, and the wider New Zealand racing industry. On 19 October 1950, the Totalisator Agency Board (TAB) was established, dawning a new era in racing and betting in New Zealand.
Retail stores soon followed in the next few months and, as the years rolled on, ‘new’ products like quinellas, trifectas and trebles came on board – only one a day for the first few years of each of these betting options, mind you!
Now, 75 years on since the TAB came into existence, we’re marking the momentous occasion. Check out the hype reel below, and if you are a TAB customer, there’s still time to enter our quiz for the chance to win Bonus Cash, or one of a number of raceday or sporting experiences across New Zealand. |
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Super Saturday performs on several fronts
Saturday, 18 October, promised to be a great day for racing fans in both New Zealand and Australia and it’s fair to say it delivered – not only on the track, but for our customers.
The day was headlined by the Group 1 features at Ellerslie (Livamol Classic), Caulfield (Caulfield Cup), and Randwick (The Everest). With such an enticing afternoon of racing, the watch parties that our teams put on at four venues around New Zealand proved very popular. In Wellington, more than 150 people attended a Race Day Royale function at the Public Trust Hall, which received rave reviews from those who attended.
The “Out The Gate” crew, who have shaken up Thursday night TV on Trackside 1, held their first Hosted Pot outside of a Thursday night. They streamed live from the Full Time Sports Bar, and delivered a better than 40% profit for the betcha punters who bought into their pot. |
| From a breeding perspective, it was a Saturday to remember in the two Group 1 races at Randwick. Kiwi-bred stars Ka Ying Rising and Jimmysstar finished first and third respectively – in an Aussie sprint race, no less – and it was a New Zealand-bred trifecta in the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes with Ceolwulf beating home Mr Brightside and Pier. Read more about Ceolwulf at trackside.co.nz. |
| Sport is proving extremely popular with our betcha customers. betcha’s own Charlie Wilson had some fun with Mitch James and former international cricketer Colin de Grandhomme, trying to spot a former pro cricketer in a line-up of masked and hooded batters. Follow along with the antics on YouTube. |
News in brief:
- Earlier in October, we made the decision to divest the TAB Racing Club as part of our focus on getting back to basics. You can read more about that at entaingroup.co.nz/news.
- It’s hard to believe we’re less than five months away from the second ever running of The NZB Kiwi. A successful component to the first edition of The NZB Kiwi was the Bonus Pool, with the race winner Damask Rose also claiming a $600,000 bonus. The 10-race list can be found at thekiwirace.nz.
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John says, “Interesting to note that total turnover on Gallops in the month was up 0ver 14% year on year and Active customers grew from 93,700 to 107,400 this year – Sports Betting continued its upward trajectory with a 54% gain year on year”
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Guest Commentator – Des Coppins
Greetings John and readers of the Friday Flash
That’s exciting news for your team John of the potential return to racing with the high class Bellatrix Star on the anniversary of her wonderful placing in last year’s epic Coolmore at Flemington. Fingers and toes crossed we not only see her back to the races healthy and sound but also recapturing the Coolmore form in due course.
Yes, it’s that time again, the start of the Spring carnival at Flemington. I consider myself very fortunate to have been trackside for the last 35 years with a wonderful bunch of kiwis cheering on some of the very best gallopers around. While great races in Sydney like The Everest and the Golden Eagle, the relatively new kids on the block, hold a special spot in racing, I still believe Derby Day this Saturday remains one of the very best days you’d find anywhere in the world.
Of course on Tuesday it’s the daddy of them all, the Melbourne Cup, the 165th running.
My first Cup visit with a tour was Think Big’s second in 1975. Doesn’t time fly when you’re having fun! I had a break before returning to host every Cup bar the COVID pairing in 2020 and 2021 re booting from Tawriffic in 1989.
With the influx on international staying horses eyeing the Melbourne Cup in recent years the challenge to find the winner brings on a new meaning but who doesn’t mind a challenge? I have a few short listed but will firmly make up my mind late on Monday after reviewing all variables including the unpredictable weather.
In the meantime I’d like to share some fun facts about the Melbourne Cup that you might use for your own benefit if you consider the task of sifting through all the form too much of a burden.
10 MELBOURNE CUP FUN FACTS
1. Since 1925 barrier 5 has been the most successful in the last 12 years with Knights Errant adding to Green Moon and Fiorente.
2. The last winner from barrier one was Prince of Penzance in 2015.
3. The last winner from the outside barrier was Brew in 2000, 22 of 22.
4. Since 1983 barriers 6,15,23 and 24 have not produced a winner.
5. In the history of the cup the most successful saddle cloth numbers are numbers 4 ( 12 wins and 12 ( 11 wins). Number one has 11 wins.
6. The worst number is 18; only one horse has won from barrier 18.
7. In the past decade the average Melbourne Cup winning weight is between 54 and 55kgs.
8. More winning jockeys have won wearing black as their main colour than any other colour.
9. The last favourite to win the Cup was Fiorente 12 years ago
10. Since 2006 only 4 Melbourne Cup favourites have finished in the money ( So You Think, 3rd in 2010; Fiorente, Hartnell ( 3rd in 2016) and Incentivise ( 2nd in 2021).
Sometimes an Easybet trifecta and or first four works the oracle. We had one lucky kiwi on our tour last year who spent $100 on an Easybet trifecta and won over ten grand on memory.
Whatever your tactic is on Tuesday, good luck!
THREE TO FOLLOW FROM ELLERSLIE
WHAT YOU WISH FOR:
Was badly held up inside the final 300m and was going as well as anything in this event over 1600m. He’s definitely one to follow as the next up winner.
FIRST DANCE:
She came from near last on the turn in the 1400 to return easily the quickest sectionals when running 4th. Give her a decent draw next time and another win is likely.
SISTA SUGAR:
She was taken a hold of when she got on heels when the pace buttoned off in the Pearl series 1200. She was held up entering the straight as well but ran to the line with purpose.
THOSE BEST BETS JUST KEEP COMING
It’s the right time to join my email punting service. Last week John gave me a warm plug on how well my October service was playing out with the Best Bets in particular and since last weeks Fortuna’s newsletter we’ve had 4 NZ meetings and my Best Bets continued with all 4 winning! I’d love to have you on board.
S
end me an email dcoppins@xtra.co.nz and all will be revealed.
You’ll receive the race by race tips as well as a paragraph or two on my Best and Value Bets for all NZ meetings. You can take the one month subscription; that’s all of November with the bonus of the 4 day Flemington carnival for just $100 ( gst included) or stay on for the best period of racing, November, December and January for $240 ( gst included).
If you decide to come on board I’ll need to know by 6pm NZ time tonight!
John says “Obviously, I get a bit of feedback from clients of our who have joined up with Des’ selection service and the four who joined up last week would’ve been happy if they had followed Des across the board because, apart from the two best bets winning, he delivered seven winners at Riccarton and four at Trentham – and with Bets of the Day only to date in October, there have been 21 selections with 13 of them winning and just under 100% gain on outlay from level stakes – not a bad outcome at all”
As always Happy Punting!
021 448 052
Des Coppins
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